David Bowie Has Died

The legendary performer was 69.

David Bowie, the music icon whose career transcended genre and spanned decades, has died at the age of 69.

The singer, songwriter, musician, and actor (among many other things) had been battling cancer for 18 months, the announcement on his official Facebook post said. He is survived by his wife, the model and mogul Iman, and two children, Duncan Jones and Alexandria Jones.

Bowie released his first album in 1967, and his most recent one, "Blackstar," on January 8, 2016, which was also his birthday. But within the career that spanned half a century was much more than just a hit song or two — though he had those in spades. He constantly challenged people to reexamine what their notion of rock music could be, and what a performer could do. Mention Ziggy Stardust, the Thin White Duke, Labyrinth, or any other number of Bowie's projects to anyone, and they'll each have a different reaction, but it's likely that it's rooted in something extremely personal. David Bowie helped teach us to embrace every aspect of our personalities, including — and especially — the weird and avant garde. And he helped remind us all that sometimes, being a rebel is the best thing to be.